Christian Friis Bach
Christian Friis Bach (born 29 April 1966) is an author, lecturer and part-time farmer.
Christian Friis Bach | |
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Secretary General of the Danish Refugee Council | |
In office 1 November 2017 – 24 April 2019 | |
Executive Secretary of UNECE | |
In office 9 July 2014 – June 2017 | |
Preceded by | Sven Alkalaj |
Succeeded by | Olga Algayerova |
Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark | |
In office 3 October 2011 – 21 November 2013 | |
Preceded by | Søren Pind |
Succeeded by | Rasmus Helveg Petersen |
Member of the Danish Parliament | |
In office 15 September 2011 – 31 July 2014 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Frederiksberg, Denmark | 29 April 1966
Political party | Social Liberal |
Spouse(s) | Karin Friis Bach ( m. 1989) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University |
Website | Official website |
Early life and education
Friis Bach was born in Frederiksberg in Denmark. He holds a Ph.D. in International Economics (1996) and an MSc in Agronomics (1992) from the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen. In 1991 he took a Supplementary degree in journalism at the Danish School of Media and Journalism.
Career
Mr Bach served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) from the 9 July 2014 until May 2017.[1]. He was previously Member of the Parliament of Denmark and Head of the Parliamentarian Group for the Social Liberal Party.[2] He served as Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark (2011-2013) in the Cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt.
He has been Honorary Professor of International Economics and Development at the University of Copenhagen (2009-2014), Assistant Professor in Development Economics at the University of Copenhagen's Institute of Economics (1996 - 1999) followed by six years as Associate Professor in International and Development Economics at the Royal Danish Agricultural University (1999-2005) (currently University of Copenhagen).
He has served as Special Advisor to the European Commission, Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, in relation to the United Nations Global Sustainability Panel (2010-2011) and was a member of then Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s Commission on Effective Development Cooperation with Africa, which held meetings between April and October 2008.[3]
Mr Bach has a long history with civil society, notably as the International Director for DanChurchAid (2005-2010), as Chairman of the Danish Association for International Cooperation (1997-2001) (Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke) and from 1997-2001 and Secretary-General of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)[4] the 1st of November 2017 from 2017-2019 [5]. . He was one of the key drivers behind the Danish Fair Trade movement (Max Havelaar Fonden later converted to Fair Trade Denmark, https://fairtradedanmark.dk/) in the early 1990’ies and helped to establish the Danish Ethical Trading Initiative and DanWatch. He also has private sector experience from running two start-up companies (https://viewworld.net/ and http://worldbarrow.dk/) and has worked as a journalist at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.
He has published a number of books and articles, both scientific and popular.
Christian Friis Bach has been married to Karin Friis Bach since 1991. They have three grown-up children (born 1991, 1993 and 1999). In their spare time, they run a part-time farm with cows and horses 25 km from Copenhagen.
References
- "Secretary-General Appoints Christian Friis Bach of Denmark Executive Secretary of U.N.E.C.E." Un.org. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- "Friis Bach becomes part of the Social Liberal leadership (in danish)". Politiken. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- Commission on Effective Development Cooperation with Africa Folketing.
- Christian Friis Bach is DRC's next Secretary General Danish Refugee Council, press release of July 4, 2017.
- Christian Friis Bach has stepped down from his role as Secretary General in the Danish Refugee Council Danish Refugee Council, press release of April 24, 2019.
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Søren Pind |
Minister for Development Cooperation 3 October 2011–21 November 2013 |
Succeeded by Rasmus Helveg Petersen |